Coupling member for hame-fasteners and the like.



F. W. COVERT.

COUPLING MEMBER FOR HAME FASTENERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4, I9II.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

witnesses COLUMBIA PLANOCIRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D. c.

rnn s rnnn'w. 'covnnr, oF-WATnRvLIEnnEw YoRK; Assrenon rooovnnr MANUFAC-1 TUnmeooMrANY, OFWATERVLIET, NEW YORK; A CORPORATION-{F NEW YORK.

GOUPLING 'MEMBEB FOR HAME-FASTENERS AND THE LIKE} Specification. ofLetters Patent. Patented Aug- 10, 1915.

' Application filed March 14, 1911. Serial No. 614,506.

To all whom it may concern: f

Be itknown that I, FRED W. CovER'r, a

, citizen of the United States, residing at vVatervlien'inthe county ofAlbany and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Coupling Members for Harr e-Fasteners, and the like, ofwhich the following ,is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawing.

The present invention relates to certain improvements in hame-fasteners,and-has more especial reference to the coupling memher for thefastener,that is the means for connecting the usual chain c of the fastener tothe end of the hame. I f

It is quite common in the art 'of' hamefasteners to provide-anadjustable connection' between the fastenerand hame,.and to this end ithas been customary to employ a f chainconnected at one endto 1 thefastener and'at' its opposite endito the hame with associated meanswhereby the chain length maybe varied as desired, and it islto this typeof fastener that the present invention hastodeal. I a p I ,7

The main object ofthefinvention is to provideacoupling'betweenfthe-usual flexiblc connection orchamf and thehame end,

which coupling is-of novel construction,

permitting thesame to bemore readily applied and removed'at will fromthe hame or chain, or both, and which said coupling roduce, 1s ren-.

while simple and cheap to dered more durable and e c1ent inoperation,and is less likely to become accidentally detached and lost.

More particularly, the invention includes a coupling means "f0rthe"hamej fastener made up of 'a body part having aplurality I ofhookmembers, one adapted to engagethe chain" or flexible connection ofthe fastener A proper, and the other, a partcarriedrby the hame end, andaspringheldretaining or locking pin common to both hook members, which,while readily movable toopen or close the hook members, is so mounted onthe hook as topreclude accidental separation from the parts with whichthe respective hook members are connected.= r

Other improvements and novel 1 details in thezconstruction andarrangement of, the various parts' will be more particularly brought outhereinafter, and for a clear understanding of the invention reference isdirected, to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, andwherein is disclosed for the illustration of the invention, preferredembodiments thereof In the drawings: Figure l is an elevation ofthefastener applied to a'collar; Figs. 2 and 5 are plan views ofopposite sides of the coupling member;,Fig. 3 is a side elevation of thesame partly in section; Fig 4 isfan end elevation of the coupling mem--ber; Fig.1 5is a plan of the coupling; Figs,

6 and 9 m plan; views of opposite sides of i.

a modified form of coupling member; Fig 7 1s a side elevation partly insection, and Fig;

8 an end view of said modified form ofcoupling; l

' JVithmore particular reference to the drawings,like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the severalviews,and in Fig. '1 it will benoted th'at a section of a collar is shown forthe purpose of more clearly illustrating the in{ vention, anditsapplication, the said collar 7 having a body portion 1 andagbeaded edge2,a.thereby forming a groove between the body portion and'said beadededge. Thisis a common construction of collar ()nly por-f tions of thehames themselves are shown, the

end :of one hame being represented "at; 3,. I

while the cooperating hame bears [the nu-Y moral 4.. Conveniently-thehames have, eyes 7 5 at their ends, andrings. orlinks 6 are pref erablymounted on saideyes, the llIlkS, af-V fordmg a slm'ple means ofconnection for i the hame fastener proper.

The main, or body part of the hame-:fas-

tener proper is indicated at 7, the same having connected thereto andprojecting from i one end thereof, a hook member 8 adapted toengagethelink 6 at theiend of one of the hames. v Pivoted convenientlyat 9 to.

crating lever 10, having connected thereto theopposite end of the bodypart 7 is an Opchain it tO' the hame link 6 may take vari Y ous forms,two of which are shown for illusstration, and in thatform disclosed in'Figs;

i 1 to 5 15"is a body part preferably having; substantially fiatsurfaces and having con-y nect ed thereto adjacent opposite ends hookmembers 16 and 16 Preferably said parts are formed of an integralcasting, but can be mechanically formed and an opening 17 (isconveniently stamped in the body part,

i and form with the body part a substantially 'S-shaped structure, andthat hook'member which said opening is adapted for the reception of whatmay be termed a looking or retaining pin 18. Y 7

The hook members are inwardly curved,

16 which is adapted to'engage one of the chain links conveniently has anarrow neck portion connecting with a transversely; en-

.1 v whereby to reinforce the same. That hook member 116 to engagethevlin'k 6 at one end ;of'

larged: head 16". Preferably the neck portion referred to is thickened,as f shown,

the'hame may be'of'substantiallythe saine widthas the body part. Theretaining pin 18 .is'of a diameter-to loosely play within the opening 17whereby the pin may be read- I ily moved longitudinally orlengthwise andthe same' is era length to extend between points adjacent the terminalsof" the hook members. The retainingpin 1 8 also has; headed ends 19,which, since the hook ends do not overlie the headed ends of the pin,are

' free to move beyond the hook members."

Conveniently two; spring members are 'em-' ployed, one, 20,"beingsleevedupcn the'pin to oneside of the body part,and' the other 20 beingsleevedlupon the-pin to the oppositeside of. the bodyqpart, Both springmembers are 'adapte'd 'to,; r'est' against. the

' that, because of the hat surface of the body considerablefidistancebelow the hook end,

part adjacent the'openin'g '17," the springs upon being oompressed'willpermitthe head ed'end of the pin uponwhichthe particular spring .ismounted, to, assume a position a whereby'to permit" the .hook to readilyenflat surfaceof the body partileaves an un:

. obstructed space between the hook members and, said, flat surface,'assistingin the ready application 50.

v of' the hook memberspas is ob action thereon, when the headedend ofthe inwardly thereby-leaving a space -between 1 the hook-end andthefbodypart." The links I of the chai-n arereadily insertible'sidewise,

whereuponthey areiturned to normal posie tionnndfthe headed end 16 ofthehook' member-will" assist in" retaining the applied link in posi-tion and prevent undue I rubbing l7 flctntact withwthe springer).5T0 engage the ".6 5 h'ookgmemberf With thelinkIG of'on'eof outersurface of the bod'ypart at" one end and against the. headed ends of;thepin at. their opposite ends, and it ,Willbe observed gage the part'to beconnected. Further, the

the name ends, the adjacent headed end of the pin is drawn inwardly bygrasping the opposite end thereof and drawing the same outwardly. Itwill be observed that in op-' erating the pin, one headed end thereofconstitutes an operating head piece which is spaced from the body partandadapted to be readily grasped by the operator. This is of" advantagesince, if the operator were compelled to press inwardly that head end ofthe pin adjacent the hook member to be applied, the thumb or finger'ofthe operatorwhich Would be in engagement with said headed end [isveryapt 'to'extend over the head of the pin and into the space betweenthe hook and body part, thereby interfering with the ready applicationof the hook.

Both" of the headed ends of the pin liewell within the outer surface ofthe termi nals of the hook members whereby to ofl'er no obstructiontherebeyond, 'which' might tendito damage the collar or adjacent parts,;

and whereby the ends ofthe' hook members constitute protecting mediums,preventing,

accidental operation of the pin.

[In Figs. 6 to 9 of the-drawings is shown another embodiment of theinvention, which is'quite similar to that previouslyd'escribed,

and in this modified construction, the body part of thehook member isconveniently indicated by'the numeral 21 which latter has]- connectedthereto hook members 22 and 22 which may. be integral projections-of thebody part, and which curve inwardly =to overlie the same surface of thebody part.

In this type of construction, the hook mem her 22 may be shaped tocorrespond; to the h'ookmember of the previously -describedconstruction, fwhilejthe hook,member 22? 1 may take the form of thehookmember 169-, of the same construction. The body part hassubstantially fiat surfaces and an opening 231 is conveniently punchedor stamped therein. 'As is obvious the body part and hook members may beformed of an integral casting or may be mechanically formed. A

pin 24 is: positioned loosely within said opening 23, whereby the sameis lengthwise movable," said pin having a head 24: at one end and arelatively larger hea'dQl at its opposite end. The head-2&1is-preferably of "a diameter to-projectbeyond' the sides of the 7 bodypart and in order 'that the-headedend .124? will"; offer noprotube'rance beyond {the T outer surface ofthebody part the latter conveniently'has' a shallow 'recess25 in its outer surface, adapted for thereception of-said 2 Y head Mounted on 'thepin 24 isa spring26 7 bearing;at its opposite'ends upon the' flat' inner surface of the body part andthe head 24 of the pin respectively,the'spring tending to force'thehead24 into th'e recess25 and the opposite head. 2tintoa position ad--,jacent to the terminals of the-hookmembers 22 an'd22if In this.connection the head 249 of the pin lies within the outer surface of theterminals of the hook members 22 and 22 so that while it constitutes aneffective lock or retaining means for the hook members, the pin or headat the end thereof will offer no projection beyond said outer surface ofthe hook members.

The operation of this type of coupling is quite similar to that of thepreviously described coupling, that is to say, the retaining pin iscommon to both hook members, and in order to move the pin, or the headedend of the pin out of locking position, the operator grasps the head 24cand draws outwardly, thereby compressing the spring and drawing the head2%? inwardly. The continuous upper surface of the body part 21 givesconsiderable space between the body part and the hooks thereby assistingin the ready application of the parts to the hooks, while the flat outersurface of the part 21 may rest flat against the collar or adjacentparts to which the device is applied Since the enlarged head 2% projectsbeyond, the sides of the body part, it is readily accessible to begrasped by the operator, the body part offering no hindrance, and theenlargement of the head for this purpose has in effect the sameadvantages of the previously described construction wherein the headedends of the pins are spaced from the body part, whereby one of theheaded ends is always ready accessible to be operated to, withdraw theother headed end of the pinfrom locking or retaining position.

In the claims, wherein the spring held pin is referred to aslongitudinally movable, the term longitudinally has reference to amovement in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the pin,as distinguished from a movement longitudinally of the body portion ofthe fastener.

What I claim is:

1. In a hame fastener, a coupling comprising a body part having inwardlyextending projectionsat opposite ends, said projections at theirterminals which overlie their body part being spaced therefrom so as toform,

hook receiving recesses, a longitudinally movable spring held lockingpin loosely positioned in a transverse opening inthe body part andadapted to cooperate with each of said overlying projections to closethe recesses formed thereby, one of said projections being relativelyflat and widened with respect to the other, and said other projectionhaving a narrow neck and an enlarged head, substantially as and. for thepurpose described. 7

2A coupling member comprising a substantially S-shaped member forming abody part and reversely curved hook members, a longitudinally movablelocking pin loosely passing through the body part, said locking hookmembers while maintaining the other closed, and spring means for holdingthe locking pin in normal position.

3. In a device of the character described, a relatively wide fiat bodypart connecting at one end with a curved relatively wide hook part andat its opposite end with a relatively narrow curved neck having atransversely extending hook part, and a spring held locking pin looselypassing through an aperture in the body, and common to each hook part.

4:. In a device of the kind described, a coupling member adapted toconnect a fastener to one end of a hame, said coupling member comprisinga substantially S-shaped member forming a body part and reversely curvedhook members, a longitudinally movable locking pin passing through thebody part and adapted to cooperate with body hook members, and springretaining means for the pin.

5. In a device of the kind described, a coupling member adapted toconnect a fastener to one end of a hame, said coupling member comprisinga substantially S-shaped member forming a body part and reverselymember'forming a body part and reversely curved hook members, alongitudinally movable retaining pin adapted to cooperate with both hookmembers, and two spring members, each mounted upon the pin one to eachside of the body part and the pin having headed ends whereby each springwill bear against the surface of the body part and the adjacent head ofthe pin, the heads at the ends of the pin lying within the outer surfaceof the terminals of the hook members and freely movable past the hookmembers in the operation of the pin.

In testimony whereof I afi'ix my signature in presence of-two witnesses-FRED WV. COVERT. lVitnesses:

JOHN H. HIRST,

ELLIs V. B. HORTH. I

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. r

